Electrical door operating device



Aug. 18, 1931'. E. R. BEr-:MAN

ELECTRICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE V 4 Sheets-Sheet Vl Filed NOV. l1. 1929 NN wr .NILN

- INVENTOR: 1 EBEE/WKN yllaq/ TTONEYS.

Aug. 18, 1931- E. R. BEEMAN ELEGTREGAL DEEE OPERATING DEVICE Filed, Nov. 1,1. 1929. 4 shetssheet 2 I/v vE/v Tl? EFBEEM/YN..

E. R. 'BEL-:MAN

ELECTRICAL DOOR OPERATING DEVICE 4 sheets-sheet s Filed Nov. ll, 1929 /7'7- TORNEYS.

Aug. 18, 1931. E. R. BEEMAN Y l 1,819,809

ELECTRICAL DOOR PRATING DEVICE 4 ,Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. l1, 1929 /TTToR/vsys.

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 My invention relates to electrical door operating devices, and particularly to devices off this character for Aoperating doors of buildings such as garages which are openedand 15 closed. An object in general of the invention is .to provide a device by means of which inwardly swinging doors and other doors may be opened vand closed upon the throwing of manually operable switches which may be located at any convenient position. A particular object is to provide a device embodying an electric motor in combination with a manually operableswitch and .an automatically operated switch device, the arrangement being such that when the manual switch is placed in one position with the automatic .switch device in a corresponding position, the doors will be. moved toward open position and when they reach such position, the auto-matic switch device will be moved not only to cut olf current from the motor but will be set in such position that current will be caused to pass through the motor .to operate it in reverse direction when the manual switch is placed in another position thereby closing the doors, upon completion of which yoperation the automatic switch device will be Y restored to its original position so that current is again cut olf from the motor and the switch device is set for the-'door opening operation such as first referred to above. Another object is to provide a device of this character having one or more reciprocating operating bars or shafts which move parallel to .the doors `when in closed position. @other object is to pro-vide mechanical connections of simple and efficient character between the motor and the doors for opening l and closing the latter according tothe direction of rotation ofv the motor, these connecembodying means which come into action asthe respec- -tive operations o-f opening and closing the doors are being completed.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the ,detailed description thereof, and thefnovel features of my inventive idea will be p articularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which tions narran i srarns earner eri-ries.

EDWIN R. BEElVIAT, 0F MINNEAPGLIS, 'MNNESOTA preferably ELECTRICAL DGE OPERATING DEVECE Application filed November 11, 1529. Serial No. 406,363.

similar view showing th doors.

are closed. l

Any cushioning fold www.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the position i manually operated switches while `the doors :le LL,

illustrate a practical embodiment of my inventiom-Fig. l is a view in horizontal section on the line l-l of Figs. 3 and 5 showing the doors in closet position.` Fig. 2 is a e doors in open position. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 (sheet 3) is a view showing a switch taken in section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is view in section on the line 5 5 of Figs; 3 and ll. Fig. G is a view in section on the line (S 4c. Fig. 7`(sheet 4) is a. view in section on the line 7 7 of Figy?) and on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 is a view in section on the line 8 8 of Fiff. 9. Fig. 9 is a view in section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram for the open lposition of the doors. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing one position of manually operated switches for starting` the closing of the doors. Fig. 12 (sheet 2) is ak wiring diagram for the closed position of the Figpl is a diagram showing aaother position of manually operated switches G of Fig.

Referring to the construction shown in the clra\vings,fthe numeral 16 designates in general the frame of a garage or other building which is provided with two inwardly swinging doors having hinges 18 by which they are hinged to the frame 16. in the embodiment shown consist of two lleaves 20, 22 and 20', 22', respectively hinged to each other by hinges 24.. An electric motor 26 is .secured to the underside of a plate or face member 28l which is supported in suit-- able manner above the doors as ley fastening it to the ceiling'or joists of the building. The motor shaft as shown in Fig. 9 is pro? vided with a disk 32 which fronts a housing v84C fast on a driven shaft 36. vSea p the housing 34 and secured to the c ish '82 are two circular Vplates 38 and ll0 spaced apart to form av central 'guideway 4 2 which tends dia-metricallv across the inner portion of the :dis'lr 32. Nithin this gui-deway. a pair of blocks-lll and 46 preferably of cork, composition vor wood. are arrangedfto slide radially, these blocks being wcighte The doors within y lng CTI set pieces 48 and 50 of lead or other heavy material. Then the motor shaft 30 starts to rotate carrying with it the disk 32, the plates 38 and 40 and the blocks 44 and 46, centrifugal force will throw these blocks outwardly so that their curved faces will enga-ge the inner cylindrical tace of the housing 34. This construction provides a yielding fric-- tional clutch which clutches the parts together' and causes the shaft 36 to rotate. Quick stopping of the motor shaft 30 will produce no unfavorable results since the clutch will release and permit further turning of the driven shaft. In case of obstruction to the doors, either in opening or closing, the clutch prevents injury either to a person or other obstruction. The clutch protects the motor from burning out and from any undue strain in case the control or the doors for any reason become stalied. Furthermore the clutch provides an easy, smooth action in opening and closing the doors.

A worm pinion 52 secured to the driven shaft 36 as shown in Fig. 7 meshes with a worm `gear 54, this worm gear being enclosed in a housing 56. The gear 54 is secured to one end of a shaft 58 the other end of which carries a pinion 60. This pinion meshes with a rack 62 carried by a lower tube or bar 64 and also meshes with a rack 66 carried by an upper tube or bar 68. The bars 64 and 68 are mounted for sliding` movement in gui-des 70 formed in brackets 72 and 73, depending from the plate 28. An adjustable collar 74 is secured to the lower bar 64 near its outer end. One end of a rod 76 is pivotally attached to the collar 7 4 while the other end of the rod 76 is pivotally attached to an intermediate portion of a bar 78. One end of the bar 78 is pivotally attached to a strap or angle piece 80 secured to the upper end of the door member 20 adjacent the door member 22 while the other end of the bar 78 is pivotally attached to one end of a bar 82 whose other end is pivotally attached to a bracket or support 84 iiXedly secured to any convenient place such as the frame above the doors. It will now be understood that when the pinion is turned in counterclockwise direction as viewed from inside the garage, the door member 20 will be swung from the closed position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 into the open position shown in Fig. 2 carrying the door member 22 therewith. In order to cause the door member 22 to fold up against the door member 20, the upper end ot the door member 22 has secured thereto, a bracket 86 upon which is pivotally mounted a. grooved roller 88. This roller is adapted to run upon a track 90, the middle of which is secured to a bracket 92. The end portions of the track 90 are curved inwardly and secured to brackets 94 fastened to angularly disposed blocks 96 which are secured to the frame of the building above the doors.

An adjustable collar 98 is secured to the upper bar 68 near the outer end. One end of a rod 100 is pivotally attached to the collar 98 While the other end of the rod 100 is pivotally attached to an intermediate portion of a bar 102. One end of the bar 102 is pivotally attached to a strap or angle piece 104 secured to the upper end of the door member 20 adjacent the door member 22 while the other end of the bar 102 is pivotally attached to one end of a bar 106 whose other end is pivotally attached to a bracket or support 108 ixedly secured to any convenient place such as the frame above the door. It will now be understood that when pinion 60 is turned in counter clockwise direction as viewed from inside the garage, the door member 20 will be swung from the closed position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 into the open position shown in Fig. 2 carrying the door member 22 therewith. In order to cause the door member 22 to :told up against the door member 20, the upper end of the door member 22 has secured thereto a bracket 110 upon which is pivotally mounted a grooved roller 112 adapted to run upon the track 90. It will be understood that in case it is desired to use the device in connection with three door members instead of four door members, then either the door member 22 or 22 can be vomitted with corresponding omission of the into closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and y 3, the spring 116 is slightly compressed between the collar 120 and the bracket 73. The cushioning effect may be properly regulated by adjusting the collars 118 and 120.

The upper bar 68 carries a rod 122 which is secured to collars 124 and 126 placed on its ends so that the rod'122 is held above the upper side of the bar 68. The rod 122 car ries two trips 128 and 130 which consists or' iat bars held respectively by collars 132 and 134 fastened to the rod 122.

A bracket 136 is attached to the lower side of the plate 28 as will be understood from Fig. 5. The bracket 136 carries two plates 138 and 140 ot insulating material. plate 138 carries three contact ingers 142, 144 and 146 while the plate 140 carries three spring contact iingers 148, 150 an 152. A

contact arm 154 is mounted on a pivot 156 carried by the bracket 136. The arm 154 The carries a plate 1580i insulating materiai to which three contact members 160, 162 and 164 are secured, these contact members boing adapted to engage respectivelywith the fingers 142, 144 and 146 or with the iingers 148, 150 and 152 according to the position of the arm 154. A trip arm 166 is mounted on the pivot 156, this arm being moved into t-he position shown in Fig. 1 by the trip 130 when 'the doors are closed, and being moved into the position shown in Fig. 2 by the trip 128 when the doors are open. The trip arm 166 is connected to the contact arm 154 by a `coiled spring 168 so that when the trip arm 166 is moved over dead center, the contact arm 154 is thrown in the same direction with a quick snappy action as will be understood from Fig. 4.

By referring to Figs. 10 and 12, it will be understood that the motor 26 has a winding 170, one end of whichis connected by a wire 172 with the movable Contact member 162 and the other end of which is connected by a wire 174 with the contact finger 142, the wire 174 being connect-ed up to an electric light bulb 176 carried by the bracket 136. The motor has a second winding 178, one end of which is connected by a wire 180 with the contact member 144 and the other end of which is connected by a wire 182 with the contact finger 146. The movable Contact members 160 and 162 are joined by a bridge member 184. A return wire 186 is connected to the movable contact member 164, it being noted thatthe wire is joined to the wire 174 at the Vpoint 188. Contact iinger 152 is connected by a wire 190 with the wire 180, the contact linger 150 is connected by a wire 192 with wire 182, while the Contact finger 148 is connected by a wire 194 with a post 196. The wire 174 is connected by a wire 198 with arpost 200 adjacent the post 196. Opposite the post 196 there isa post 202 whileopposite the post 200 there is a post 204. Fost 202 is adapted to be lioined by a connecting member 206 either with the post 196 as shown lin Fig. 13 or with the post 200 as shown in Fig. 14. At 'the same time, the post 204 is joined by 'a connecting member 208 with the p'ost 200 as shown in Fig. 13 or with the post 196V as shown in Fig. 14, it being understood that the "parts just described constitute a manually operated four-way switch which may be placed either in the position of Fig. 13 or in 'that ot Fig. 14. This switch is located inside of the `garage in any convenient position. The post 202 is connected by a wire 210 with a post 212 while the post 204 is connected by a wire 2 -1 4 with a post 216. A movable switch member 218 connected to a post 220 is adapted to be engaged with either the post 212 or the post 216. The switch lmember 218 forms part of a manually operated switch which is placed'in any suitable place outside the garage as for instance upona support where it may be reached by the driver of an automobile when approaching the garage. A feed wire 222 is connected with the post 220.

.Assuming that the doors are closed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and that it is desired to bring them into the open position shown in Fig. 2, the switch member 218 is thrown to the full line position shown in Fig. 12. Current now flows through the wire 198 to the wire 174 and through the lamp 176 to the return wire 186, thereby causing the lamp to be lit. At the same time, current iiowing through the wire 198 flows through the finger 142, the contact member 160, the bridge member 184, the contactmember162, the wire 172, and the winding 170 to the return wire 186.. At the contact member 162, the current divides and part flows through the iinger 144, the wire 180, the winding 178, the wire 182, the contact iinger 146, the contact member 164, and the return wire 186. The motor is thus turned in the proper direction to open the doors in the manner previously stated. As

the doors are reaching their open position, the trip 128 engages the trip arm 166 as shown in Fig. 2 whereby the automatic switch device is moved into the position shown in Fig. 10. Current to the motor is by this action cut off since it can no longer flow through the finger 142, but the lamp will remain lit with the doors open. In order to close the doors, the switch member 218 may be thrown into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 10. Current now flows through the wire 214, the switch member 208, the wire 194, the inger 148, the contact 160, the bridge member 184, the contact member 162, the wire 172, and the winding 17 0 to the return wire 186. At the contact member 162, the current divides and part flows through the iinger 150, the wire 192, the wire 182, the winding 178 in the reverse direction from before, the wire 180, the

-wire 190, the finger 152, and the contact member 164 to the return wire 186. The motor is thus again rotated but in the reverse direction so that the doors are closed, it being noted that during this operation the lamp is not lit. Y Just ask the doors are reaching their closed position., the trip 130 engages the trip Varm 166 and throws the automatic switch deare closed, it being understood that the au- 3' tomatic switch device is in the position of Figs. 4 and 12. It now, it is desired toopen the doors by means ofthe inside switch, the outside switch member 218 is left in the position of Fig. 13, and the inside switch is 73 operated to bring the connecting members 206 and 208 into the position shown in Fig. 13. it is apparent that the doors will now be opened in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. 12 since current trom the feed wire 222 will How through the outside switch member 21S and the inside connecting member 208 to the wire 19S as in Fig. 12. li' on the other hand, the doors are opened with the outside switch member 218 in the position ot Fig. 11, the switch member can be left in this position and the inside switch operated to bring the connecting members 206 and 208 into the position shown in Fig. 11. it is apparent that the doors will now be closed in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. since current from the feed wire 222 will ow through the outside switch member 218 and the inside connecting member 206 to the wire 194 as in Fig. 10.

`While tor illustrative purposes, my operating mechanism has been shown applied to inwardly swinging doors, it is to be understood that it is susceptible of use in connection with other kinds of doors. It will also be understood that my operating mechanism may be used in connection with single doors and that when applied to double doors, the doors may be positioned at diiierent angles. lhen the mechanism is used in connection with public garages, it may happen' that an automobile has entered the garage and another automobile approaches lfor entrance after the attendant has operated the switch to close the doors. In such case, the attendant may immediately throw the switch again without waiting for the doors to completely close and the doors will then move into open position. While in the embodiment herein illustrated, I have shown the rod connection with the rack device as being made near the end of the latter, it is olovious that this connection especially in the case of wide doors may be made at an intermediate place ot the rack device. In regard to the springs 114 and 116, one of these springs is compressed in closing the doors and the other is compressed in opening the doors, whereby the compression of the springs helps to start the motor both for the closing and the opening operation.

I claim:

1.. A door operating device comprising a motor, two racks, guides for said racks which maintain them in parallelism with each other and parallel to the closed position of the doors, a pinion engaging the teeth o both ot said racks for moving the latter in opposite dir ictions, mechanism for driving said pinion from said motor, rods pivotally attached at one of their ends to said racks respectively, links to which the other ends of said rods are pivotally and inermediately attached, the outer ends of said links being pivotally attached to the doors respectively, bars `to the inner ends of which the inner ends of said links are pivotally attached, fixed members secured above the doors and to which the outer ends of said bars are pivotally attached, and means whereby said motor may be rotated in either direction as desired.

2. A door operating device comprising a motor, two racks, guides for said racks which maintain them in parallelism with each other and parallel to the closed position of the doors, a pinion engaging the teeth of both or" said racks `for moving the latter in opposite directions, mechanism for driving said pinion from said motor, rods pivotally attached at one of their ends to said racks respectively, links to which the'other ends of said rods are pivotally and intermediately attached, the outer ends of said links being pivotally attached to the doors respectively, bars to the inner ends of which the inner ends of said links are pivotally attached, fixed members secured above the doors and to which the outer ends of said bars are pivotally attached, a manually operable switch device for completing a circuit to rotate said motor in either direction as desired, and mechanism for automatically stopping said motor when the doors reach the position into which they are being moved.

3. An electrical door operating device for doors having two leaves hinged together, comprising a motor, two racks, guides for said racks which maintain them in parallelism with each other and parallel to the closed position of the doors, a pinion engaging the teeth of both of said racks for moving the latter in opposite directions, mechanism for driving said pinion :trom said motor, rods pivotally attached at one of their ends to said racks respectively, links to which the other ends of said rods are pivotally and intermediately attached, the outer ends of said links being pivotally attached to the inner leaves of said doors respectively, bars to the inner ends of which the inner ends of said links are attached, fixed members secured above the doors and to which the outer ends ot said bars are pivotally attached, rollers carried by the upper ends of the outer leaves of said doors respectively, a track upon which said rollers are adapted to run, and means whereby said motor may be rotated in either direction as desired.

4. An electrical door operating device for doors having two leaves hinged together, comprising a motor, two racksguides for said racks which maintain them in parallelism with each other and parallel to the closed position of the doors, a pinion engaging the teeth oit' both of said racks for moving the latter in opposite directions, mechanism for driving said pinion from said motor, rods pivotally attached at one of their ends to said racks respectively, links to which the other ends of said rods are pivotally and intermediately attached, the outer ends of said links being pivotally attached to the inner leaves of said doors respectively, bars to the inner ends of which the inner ends of said links are attached, fixed members secured above the V doors and to which the outer ends of said bars are pivotally attached, rollers carried by the upper ends of the outer leaves of said doors respectively, a track upon which said rollers are adapted to run, a manually operl able switch device for completing a circuit to rotate said motor in either direction as desired, and mechanism for automatically stopping said motor when the doors reach the position into which they are being moved.

5. A door operating device comprising a motor, two racks spaced from each other vertically, guides for said racks which maintain them in parallelism with each other andparallel to the closed position of the doors, drift springs surrounding the end portions of the upper one of said racks, adjustable collars carried by said upper rack, the outer ends of said springs respectively engaging said collars and the inner ends of said springs being engageable with said guides during the operation of the device, a pinion engaging vthe teeth of both of said racks for moving the latter in opposite directions, mechanismvfor driving said pinion from said motor, rods pivotally attached at one of their ends to said racks respectively, links to which the other ends of said rods are pivotally and intermediately attached, the outer ends of said links being pivotally attached to the doors respectively, bars to the inner ends of which the inner ends of said links are pivotally attached, fixed members secured above the doors and to which the outer ends of said bars are pivotally attached, and means whereby said motor maybe rotated in either direction as desired.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiX my signature.

EDWIN R. BEEMAN. 

